Shock-absorbing cargo container

ABSTRACT

A cargo container assembly includes a cargo container for transporting goods. A plurality of support assemblies are connected to a bottom of a base of the cargo container. Each support assembly includes a foot or support pad connected to the bottom of the base by one or more compressible, or otherwise shock-absorbing, leg mechanisms. One or more of the leg mechanisms optionally include a compression spring for providing shock absorption under loading conditions. The bottom surface of each support pad is preferably flat, or substantially flat, for resting on the ground or on other relatively even surfaces, and for facilitating movement of the support pad along roller-ball conveyors, roller-mats, and other conveyor systems. Because the support assemblies position the container base above the ground, the container assembly can readily be lifted by the arms of a pallet jack.

BACKGROUND

Cargo containers are commonly used for shipping goods and other items via land, air, and water. Aluminum cargo containers are often used for shipping goods due to their relatively light weight and high durability. An aluminum shipping container is typically attached to, or integral with, an aluminum pallet acting as a base for the container. A typical aluminum pallet includes spaced apart top and bottom sheets connected by longitudinal metal stringers. Openings are provided between the metal stringers for receiving the arms of a forklift, which may be used to transport the container to and from vehicles, warehouses, and other storage locations.

While these aluminum container assemblies have been relatively effective, they typically cannot be used with pallet jacks, which are commonly used in warehouses and other buildings, often in place of forklifts, to lift and move pallets and other heavy objects. The arms of a pallet jack generate their lifting force by pushing off the ground in a scissor-like motion to raise objects positioned above the jack arms, such as pallets having legs instead of a bottom sheet. A pallet jack cannot lift a pallet having a bottom sheet resting on the ground, since the jack arms would have to be inserted between the top and bottom sheets, which would result in the jack arms pushing down on the bottom sheet and up on the top sheet, thereby tending to separate the sheets from each other. Alternatively, even if the arms of the pallet jack are positioned under the bottom sheet (e.g., if the pallet is supported on blocks in a position above the ground), the force of the jack arms on the relatively unsupported bottom sheet could tend to cause the bottom sheet to deform in locations not supported by stringers. Thus, pallet jacks cannot effectively be used with existing cargo container assemblies including aluminum pallet bases.

SUMMARY

A cargo container assembly includes a cargo container for transporting goods. A plurality of support assemblies are connected to a bottom of a base of the cargo container. Each support assembly includes a foot or support pad connected to the bottom of the base by one or more compressible, or otherwise shock-absorbing, leg mechanisms. One or more of the leg mechanisms optionally include a compression spring for providing shock absorption under loading conditions. The bottom surface of each support pad is preferably flat, or substantially flat, for resting on the ground or on other relatively even surfaces, and for facilitating movement of the support pad along roller-ball conveyors, roller-mats, and other conveyor systems.

Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter. The features described above can be used separately or together, or in various combinations of one or more of them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a container assembly including shock-absorbing support assemblies, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the base of the container assembly shown in FIG. 1, with the container omitted for clarity and the shock-absorbing support assemblies shown in phantom.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the container base shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a side-sectional view, taken along line A-A of FIG. 2A, of a shock-absorbing leg mechanism, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a base of an alternative container assembly, with the container omitted for clarity and the shock-absorbing support assemblies shown in phantom.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the container base shown in FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments.

The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below. However, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this detailed description section.

Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list.

Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 shows a cargo container assembly 10 used for transporting goods via air, ground, or water. The cargo container assembly 10 includes a cargo container 12 having a substantially rectangular base 14, or a base having any other suitable shape. An extruded edge rail 17 is optionally connected, via rivets 21, screws, welds, bolts, or other suitable connectors, to an outer edge of the base 14. The container 12 further includes side walls 11 attached to the base 14 and a top 13 or lid attached to the side walls 11. One or more doors 23 or other loading openings, such as an opening covered by a flexible fabric door, are provided in one or more of the side walls 11 or the top 13 of the container 12.

The various structural components of the cargo container assembly 10 may be made of one or more metals, such as aluminum, or may be made of any other suitable material or combination of materials. The container 12 may, for example, be a standard aluminum ground-shipping container having a length of approximately 96 inches, a width of approximately 78 inches, and a height of approximately 96 inches. Alternatively, the cargo container 12 may be any other size suitable for transporting goods.

A plurality of support assemblies 15 are connected, via bolts 20, rivets, or other suitable connectors, to a bottom of the container base 14. Each support assembly 15 preferably includes a foot or support pad 16 and one or more compressible, or otherwise shock-absorbing, leg members or leg mechanisms 18 connecting the support pad 16 to the bottom of the base 14. Each support pad 16 optionally includes an extruded edge rail 19 attached, via screws 38, rivets, welds, bolts, or other suitable connectors, along its perimeter for providing added durability to the support pad 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the edge rail 19 on the support pad 16 is preferably angled so it can be smoothly moved over uneven surfaces.

Each support pad 16 is preferably made of a metal, such as aluminum, but may alternatively be made of any other suitable material or combination of materials. The bottom surface of each support pad 16 is preferably flat, or substantially flat, for resting on the ground or on other relatively even surfaces, and for facilitating movement of the support pads 16, and thus the container assembly 10, over roller-ball conveyors, roller-mats, and other conveyor systems.

The support assemblies 15 may be located at any suitable regions on the bottom of the container base 14. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B (in which the container 12 is omitted for clarity), each bottom corner region of the base 14 includes a support assembly 15 having four compressible leg mechanisms 18 attached to a support pad 16.

Additional support assemblies 15 may optionally be included at interior regions or edge regions of the base 14 to provide additional support to the container 12. For example, an additional support assembly 15 may be connected to a substantially central region of the bottom of the base 14. In one embodiment, support assemblies 15 are arranged in three rows on the bottom of the base 14 (e.g., one row along each edge longitudinal edge of the base 14 and one centrally located row), with each row including three or more support assemblies 15. In one embodiment, each support assembly 15 connected to a bottom of the base includes at least two compressible leg mechanisms 18.

The support assemblies 15 are preferably spaced apart such that openings wide enough for receiving the arms of a pallet jack or forklift are provided between the support assemblies 15. If one or more support assemblies 15 are included at the central edge regions of the base 14, they are preferably narrower than the spacing between the arms of a pallet jack or forklift so that the jack or lift arms can be inserted around the sides of the central edge support assembly 15. Because the support assemblies 15 cause the container base 14 to be spaced above a surface on which the support pads 16 rest, the arms of a pallet jack may be inserted under the container base 14 and the pallet jack may effectively be used to lift and move the container assembly 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, each leg mechanism 18 in a support assembly 15 includes a compression spring 30 located within a housing 32. The compression spring 30 may be made of a rubber or elastomeric material, or may be made of any other suitable material. The compression spring 30 is preferably positioned between, and adhered or otherwise affixed to, a base plate 34 and a top plate 36, each of which may be made of aluminum or any other suitable material. The base plate 34 and top plate 36 may be attached to the support pad 16 via screws 38 and lock nuts 40, bolts, or any other suitable connectors.

While a rubber or elastomeric spring 30 is shown in FIG. 3, any other suitable spring or shock-absorbing mechanism may alternatively be used in one or more of the leg mechanisms 18. For example, metal or plastic coils, or hydraulic or air compression assemblies, among other devices, could be substituted for the rubber or elastomeric compression spring 30 shown in FIG. 3.

A metal spacer 42 or similar structure extends upwardly from the top plate 36 to (or through an opening in) a roof plate 44 of the spring housing 32. One or more washers 46 or other spacing elements are positioned at an upper surface of, and held in engagement with, the roof plate 44 or spacer 42 by a bolt 20 or other suitable connector. The bolt 20 extends through the container base 14, the washers 46, the spacer 42, and into the top plate 36.

When a load is added or applied to the container 12, the container 12 deflects downwardly. The container base 14 pushes the washers 46, spacer 42, and top plate 36 downwardly against the force of the compression spring 30. As the spring 30 compresses, the top plate 36 slides downwardly along the screws 38 such that the washers 46 and the roof plate 44 move downwardly into the spring housing 32. The amount of deflection available is generally dictated by the combined vertical thickness of the washers 46 (assuming the spring 30 is compressible enough to allow the container 12 to deflect downwardly until the container base 14 and its edge rail 17 come into contact with the top of the spring housing 32). In one embodiment, the washers 46 have a combined vertical thickness of approximately 0.25 inches to 0.50 inches, thus allowing 0.25 inches to 0.50 inches of vertical deflection of the container 12 under loading conditions. The washers 46 may of course have any other desired thickness. In one embodiment, the upper end of the spacer 42 may optionally extend through the roof plate 44 when the container assembly 10 is at rest, thus providing additional available deflection.

While FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a shock-absorbing leg mechanism 18, any leg mechanism suitable for providing support and shock-absorption to the container 12 may alternatively or additionally be used in the container assembly 10. Thus, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is not intended to be limiting.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an alternative container base 60 (the container is omitted for clarity) smaller than the one shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The alternative container base 60 includes two support assemblies 15, each including four compressible, or otherwise shock-absorbing, leg members or mechanisms 18 connected to a support pad 16. Additional support assemblies 15 may optionally be included at interior regions or edge regions of the alternative container base 60 to provide additional support to the container assembly. Furthermore, a greater or lesser number of leg mechanisms 18 may optionally be included in one or more of the support assemblies 15.

In an alternative embodiment, a container is detachably connectable to a base including support assemblies on its bottom surface. The container may be connectable to the base via any suitable locking mechanism, such as the locking mechanisms described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,338, which is incorporated herein by reference. Thus, the base may be integral with or permanently attached to the container, or it may be a separate component that is detachably connectable to the container.

The container assembly 10 provides several advantages over existing container assemblies. One advantage is that the container assembly 10 can be lifted and moved by a pallet jack (as well as a forklift). As explained above, existing container assemblies that include bottom sheets that rest on the ground cannot be lifted by a pallet jack, which is often the preferred lifting device used in warehouses, transportation depots, hangars, or other storage areas. Because the support assemblies 15 position the container base 14 above the ground, the container assembly 10 can readily be lifted by the arms of a pallet jack.

Another advantage of the container assembly 10 is that, due to the presence of the support pads 16, the container assembly 10 can be transported along roller-ball conveyors or roller-mats. Existing container assemblies that are liftable via a pallet jack typically include legs or similar structures for supporting the container above a surface to facilitate ingress of the jack arms under the container. These leg structures typically cannot be efficiently moved along a roller-conveyor, since the legs tend to get caught between the roller tubes or roller balls of the conveyor system. The support pads 16, conversely, can move smoothly along roller tubes, roller balls, or similar conveyors.

Any of the above-described embodiments may be used alone or in combination with one another. Furthermore, the container assembly may include additional features not described herein. While several embodiments have been shown and described, various changes and substitutions may of course be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except by the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A cargo container assembly, comprising: a cargo container including a base, side walls attached to the base, a top attached to the side walls, and a loading opening in at least one of the side walls and the top; a plurality of support assemblies connected to a bottom of the base, with each support assembly comprising: a support pad; and at least one shock-absorbing leg mechanism connecting the support pad to the bottom of the base.
 2. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein each support pad has a substantially flat lower surface for facilitating movement of the support pad along a roller-ball conveyor.
 3. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein the base is substantially rectangular, and wherein each bottom corner region of the base includes a support assembly connected thereto.
 4. The cargo container assembly of claim 3 wherein each support assembly connected to a bottom corner region of the base includes at least two compressible leg mechanisms.
 5. The cargo container assembly of claim 3 wherein each support assembly connected to a bottom corner region of the base includes at least four compressible leg mechanisms.
 6. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the support assemblies is connected to a substantially central region of the bottom of the base.
 7. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein openings are provided between the support assemblies for receiving lifting arms on a pallet jack.
 8. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein each leg mechanism includes a compressible rubber spring.
 9. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of support assemblies are arranged in three rows on the bottom of the base, with each row including three support assemblies.
 10. The cargo container assembly of claim 1 wherein each support pad includes an edge rail attached along a perimeter of the support pad.
 11. A cargo container assembly, comprising: a cargo container including a substantially rectangular base having four corner regions, wherein each corner region includes; a leg assembly extending downwardly from the base, with the leg assembly including a compression spring; and a support pad connected to a lower region of the leg assembly.
 12. The cargo container assembly of claim 11 wherein each corner region includes a plurality of leg assemblies extending downwardly from the base, with the support pad connected to a lower region of each of the plurality of leg assemblies.
 13. The cargo container assembly of claim 12 wherein the plurality of leg assemblies at each corner region comprises four leg assemblies positioned substantially at four corners of the support pad.
 14. The cargo container assembly of claim 11 wherein each support pad has a substantially flat lower surface for facilitating movement of the support pad along a roller-ball conveyor.
 15. The cargo container assembly of claim 11 further comprising an interior leg assembly extending downwardly from a substantially central region of the base, and an interior support pad connected to a lower region of the interior leg assembly.
 16. The cargo container assembly of claim 11 wherein openings are provided between the corner regions for receiving lifting arms on a pallet jack.
 17. The cargo container assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the compression springs comprises a rubber material.
 18. The cargo container assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the support pads includes an edge rail attached along a perimeter of the support pad.
 19. A cargo container assembly, comprising: a cargo container including a base; and shock-absorbing means connected to a bottom of the base for supporting the base in a position above a surface, wherein openings are provided between the shock-absorbing means for receiving lifting arms on a pallet jack.
 20. The cargo container assembly of claim 19 wherein the shock-absorbing means comprise a plurality of leg assemblies, each including a compression spring, attached to a substantially flat support means for resting on a surface. 